"It’s not because COVID-19 is suddenly dispersed from the geography of the state of Texas," Abbott said. "The reason why it is leveling off is because our fellow Texans have done such a great job of reducing their interactions with others."

The governor has assembled a panel of business executives and lobbyists charged with charting a course to reopen the state's economy. He plans to issue another executive order Monday outlining the next steps in the plan.

On Wednesday, Abbott told a radio program that the order will reopen "massive amounts of businesses" — including movie theaters, hair salons, and dine-in restaurants. When he makes the announcement, Abbott said he will give businesses a week to do what they need to get ready to reopen.

Here's what you need to know about Abbott's plan to reopen the economy:

The Department of State Health Services said all employees must be trained on disinfection and hygiene, then screened for symptoms — shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, fever, close contact with person confirmed to have COVID-19 — before entering the business.

Customers can purchase items for pickup, delivery by mail, or delivery to the customer's doorstep. Payments should be done over the phone or online if possible. Contact should be minimized if remote payment is not available.

Employees should put purchases in the trunks of customer vehicles when possible. Workers must wear face coverings and maintain at least 6 feet of separation from one another.

- Non-emergency medical procedures can resume as long as those surgeries don't deplete medical resources. The restrictions on elective surgeries were intended to conserve supplies and free up bed space.

To resume surgeries, hospitals need to submit a letter to the state’s Health and Human Services Commission promising to reserve at least 25 percent of its capacity for the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Also, facilities that resume elective surgeries can’t request personal protective equipment, such as masks, from local, state or national stockpiles for the duration of the outbreak.

- State parks re-opened Monday, two weeks after Abbott ordered them closed in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Some parks, including Mustang Island State Park near Corpus Christi, remained closed.

Park visitors are required to purchase permits and reservations online before travelling to a park. At the park, they must follow social-distancing rules of 6 feet or more and wear masks over their faces.

- Texas schools are closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year. Teachers are encouraged to work remotely if possible, but may return to schools to conduct video instructions or carry out administrative tasks.

- Abbott named a panel of business executives and lobbyists to advise him on restarting the economy. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff put together their own team to make recommendations for getting the local economy back up to speed.